Trace-fastener.



OIOFHAT HAWAY & F. W. HUFFAKER.

TRACE FASTENER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1911.

1,014,001 Patented M119, 1912.

CHARLES O. HATHAWAY AND FRANCIS W. HUFFAKER, OF BIG TIMBER, MONTANA.

TRACE-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 9, 1912.

Application filed May 15, 1911. Serial No. 627,202.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES O. HATHA- WAY and FRANCIS V. HUrrAxEn,citizens of the United States, residing at Big Timber, in the county ofSweet Grass, State of Montana,have invented a new and useful Trace-Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in trace-fasteners forwhiflietrees.

The invention has for its object primarily to provide for the readyattachment and detachment of the trace to and from a whililetree,respectively.

A further object is to effectively guard against the casualdisengagement or detachment of the tracefrom its carrying or securinghook.

A still further object is to carry out these ends in a simple,expeditious and effective way.

The invention consists of certain instrumentalities and featuressubstantially as hereinafter fully disclosed and defined by the claims.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment of ourinvention, wherein it will be understood that various changes andmodifications may be made as relate to the details of the constructionand arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of theinvention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is a planview thereof. Fig. 3 is an inverted, or underside view of the same. Fig.4 is a transverse section, produced upon the line w-w of Fig. 1, viewinginwardly. Fig. 5 is also a transverse section of like general parts, ahinged or articulated connection, however, being effected between thestrap members forming the clasp or retainer for the tracecarrier.

In practicing our invention, We suitably provide a fastener or retainer,designated generally as 1, for the retention of the trace upon thewhitlletree-hook 2, as against the casual disengagement or detachment ofsaid trace therefrom, while said fastener is readily actuated for theattachment and detachment of the trace to and from the whittletree-hookas may be required in the practical use thereof. Said fastener orretainer 1 includes in its construction preferably an inflexible ormetal-strap member having preferably the formation disclosedparticularlyby Figs. land 3 and being to a limited extent springy orresilient. Said strap or member has an end vertical portion 3 which isopposed to the end of the whittletree-hook 2, said vertical portionbeing outwardly bent to form a recess a. Said bent portion or recess.receives said whiflietreehook, upon its outer edge, perpendicular to thehorizontal plane thereof, the inner surface of the recess or bentportion closely engaging said edge of said hook to prevent the casualdisengagement at that point of the trace and accordinglyiproviding foreffect ively securin the trace against accidental release or cetachment, as is apparent. Said vertical end-portion 3, has a shortlower horizontal extension preferably split' or bifurcated, it thusbeing formed into two branches or prongs simply, however, as anexpediency, as will appearpresently. Said branches terminate in eyes 6which receive preferably a screw-headed and nutequipped bolt 7; and tothe whitlletree S is suitably held a thin metal-plate or strap 9 havingan eye-terminal 10 at one end receiving or encompassing the bolt 7,intermediate the eyes 6 as a convenient or expedient way of effectingsuch connection; and upon which bolt the fastener or retainer 1 isthusfulcrumed or pivoted. The vertical end portion of the fastener orretainer is extended at its upper extremity into a lever or handleforming portion 11 which is preferably of resilient character, to aidits retention in position Said lever or handle member is held ineffective or locked position by engagement with a catch 12 adapted to besuitably secured to the whifiietree 8. The catch 12 is preferablycomprised of opposed arcuate sections or members 13, 13 adapted to beconjointly clamped upon the whittletree, the lower end of said catch,being preferably extended a short distance downwardly, as at 14. Betweenthe downwardly extended portions 14 is interposed a short arcuate orcurved connection, or. bar-like member 15, engaging the underside of thestrap 9 and also having downwardly extending portions 16. The downwardextensions 14 and the corresponding extensions 16 of the clasp membersor sections 13 are connected together preferably also by a screwheadedand nut-equipped bolt 17 inserted therethrough. The upper end of theclamp member or section 13 terminates in a short vertical extension 18suitably bolted or secured as at 19 to a like extension 20, effect ingconnection between the upper horizontal overhanging portion forming theclip proper. This clip, together with an additional clip-member 21, alsoembracing the 'Whitiletree 8, also provides for the retention of thestrap 9 in place thereon, the additional clip-member, preferably havingsimilar lower-end downward extensions 22. Also a :like short connectionor bar-like member 23 is applied to engage the underside of the st 'ap 9and interposed between the downward extensions 22 of the additionalclipmember 21. The member 23 also has downward extensions 2% which aresuitably se cured or bolted to the extensions of the clip 21, as at'25.

As suggested by Fig. 5, in lieu of the form of clip disclosed above, asin Fig. 4, a clip 26 may be employed. Said clip is preterably formed oftwo sections or members 27 and 28, hinged or articulated togetherpreferably after substantially the fashion of forming the pivotalconnection 6, 7 between the retainer or fastener and the strapmember 9;said hinge, or articulated connection between the members or sections 27and 28, being formed as -lollows: The memher or section 2'? isbifurcated to form the same with branches or arms having cycendedterminals 29 while the lower or op posed end terminates in an eye whichis received between the e e-ended terminals 29. A preferablyscrew-headed and nutequipped bolt 30 is inserted through the eyeendedterminals and eye for completing the hinging or articulating connection.The member 28 has a. lower end depressed portion 31 adapted. to form aseat to receive the strap-member 9 to aid in effecting the retention ofthe latter in place. upon the whillletrce. The members 27 and 28 of theclip 26 are connected or held together above the Whiflletree by means ofa suitably headed and nut-equipped bolt 32 passed through apertures ofupper end straight portions 33 and corresponding to the portions 18 and20 of the form of clip shown particularly by Fig. 1 of the preferreddisclosure of the in vention.

It is clearly al'iparent from the foregoing description and accompanyingillustration or drawing, that we have provided a device of thischaracter which is adapted to allow of the ready engagement anddisengagement of the trace with and from the whillle tree hook orcarrying member, also which will ellectively secure the trace againstpossible causal detachment therefrom. The device is also characterizedby simplicity, embracing but few parts, is readily applied 'for use, andeasily actuated, while it is inexpensive to manufacture trce, sai

It will be readily appreciated that the application or attachment of thedevice to the whillletree may be effected so that the resilient handleforming extension or 1116111 ber of the trace-retainer 1 may be opposedto the front side of the whitlletree, or otherwise, as may be required.

lVe claim l. A device of the character described, including thecombination with a whiltletree and a trace-carrier, of a trace-retainerhaving a recess-forming vertical portion to receive the trace-engagingend of said tracecarrier, said vertical portion having a lower-endinturned-horizontal extension, means effecting pivotal'connection forsaid vertical ortion with respect to the whifilevertical portion havingin continuation of its upper end a resilient handle- :torming extension,and means for the connection of said handle-forming extension to thewhittletree.

2. A device of the character described, including the combination with awhittletrcc and a trace-cznrier, of a trace-retainer having arecess-framing vertical portion adapted to receive the trace-engagingend of said trace-carrier, a strap-member applied to said whitlletree,upon one side thereof, means effecting pivotal connection between saidstrapuuembcr"and an inturncd or horizontal extension of said verticalportion, said vertical portion having in continuation of its upper end aresilient handleforming extension, and means for the connection of saidhandle-forming extension to said whillletrce. I

3. A device of the character described embracing the con'lbination witha whittletree and a trace-carrier of a trace-retainer having ahamllc-t'orn'ling extension and adapted to engage the outer or face endof said trace-carrier, means for the manipulation of saidtrace-retainer, a strap-member applied to said whitlletree, meanselfecting pivotal connection between said strap-memher and saidtrace-retaincr, and means for the attachment of said strap-member tosaid whilllctree including clips applied to the lattor and said strapmember, one of said clips having an' overhanging catch-forming portionfor engaging the handle-forming extension of said trace-retainer.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have heretoaffixed our signalures in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES O. HA'IIIA'WAY. FRANCT S W. HUFFAKER.

l/Vi tncsses:

A. G. I-Lrron, IvAn Moona.

